Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-28
An OPIUM JOINT IN CHINA.
The Horrible DEN that is Attractive TO the
Natives in Shanghai.
Boston Herald.


a writer in recent number OF the
North Caina Herald describes the Nin-
gin-tsin. TIE greatest opium den in China.
Il is known throughout the length sDd
breadth CT the Empire to the Chinese, end
it helps to make Shanghai regarded IS g
city affordiDg the same opportunities tor
pleasure and dissipation that Paris does
to the typical Frenchmsn. 1t is situated
in the French concession in Shanghai,
within g stones throw of the wall OF
the native city, within which no
opium shops ere supposed TO exist. The
character of the place should not be
guessed from its external appearance, al
though the air Of the people passing in
and out might suggest 1t. The throngs
visiting it represent al stations Il life,
from the CO Die to the wealthy merchant
or the small mandarin. 1t is with diff
Guilty that ole gets inside through the
Groves of people h&Dgtng around the
door. Those who have not the re qutslte
number of copper cash to procure the
baneiul pipe watch with horrible Wist-
fulness each Of the more att1uent pass
in with nervous, hurried step, o.
totter out wearing that peculiar dsZ9d
express, ion which comes after the smokers
craving has been satisfied and his tran
silent rleasur3 has passed away. OGe re-
Quires strong stomach TO stand tue SICK
tning fumes which the cir inside is thick
ened. The clouds OF smoke, the dim
| light from the numerous colOred lamps,
! the numbers of reclining forms with dis
! torted faces bent over the small flames st
which the pipes are lighted, cause the
novice q sickening sensation. But as
soon ss the eye becomes accustomed TO
the scene, it Is noticed that the place is
got Up on an expensive scale. In the
center Of the lower room hangs
ore of the finest Of Chinese
lsmps, the ceiling is OF richly
carved wood, while the lpainted walls are
thicbly inlaid with peculiar marked
marble, which gives the idea OF unfinished
LANDSCAPE sketches. Numerous doors or
all sides lead to the smokers apartments.
In The outer portion Of the bull li1g stands
counter covered with little boxes OF the
drug ready for the smoking, which q
dezen assistants are kept busy handing
out to the servants who wait upon the
habitues OF the place. The average daily
receipts are said to be about $1,000. The
smoking apartments sre divided into four
classes. In the cheapest are coolies. who
pay about fcurpence for their smoke. In
the dearest the smoke costs about seven
pence. The drug supplied in each class
ia much the same both in quslity
and quantity; it is the difference in the
pipes that regulates the price. The bess
kinds are made of ivory, the stem being
often iplaid with stones, and rendered
more costly by reason of elaborate cary
ing; the cheapest kinds are made simply
of hard wood. The rooms also are fur
rished according to class. In the mosi
expensive the lounge upon which The
smoker reclines Is Of 6ne velvet, with
pillows OF the same msterial; the frames
of esca couch are inlaid with mother OF
pearl and Jade, and the whole air OF these
rooms is one Of ssnsu0us luxury. There
Is also ; number Of private rooms. Ii
the poorer section will be seen many
wesrers Of the tattered yellow and gray
robes OF Buddhist and Tavist priests
Women form fair proportion o.
ths smokers The common be.
lief is tnst tae opium sleep is attended oy
mild, pleGsuresble delirium, with 6rlei
chances Of elysiam but this is the excep-
ton, not the rule. People smoke to sat
isfy the craving begotten of previous in
, diligence. There is accommodation fol
so smokers at time, and there is sell
: dom vacancy very long. The stresm o
. smokers goes on from early morning I'll
midnight, when the place closes; th'
clouds of smoke go up necessarily all ds!
long. Europeans do not often visit th'
place, but the seamen OF American men
ot-war visiting Shanghai sometimes seei
solace in the drug.